Automatic-telegraph system



(NoModel.)

T,P. TAYLOR.

' 111112011111310v TBLBGRAPH SYSTEM.

1101293111; Patented @9101111881 To all' 'zz/71,0111, 71mg/ concern:

Stura@ Armar fre-ICE@ AUTOMATIC-TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

SPCIEICATION forming part of Ilettersatent No. 293,111, `dated lfebruaryi5,`188l,

` I Application filed September 11S, 1893. (No model.)

Beitknotvn that I, Ti-Inononn F. TAYLOR, a citizen of :the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of 7 New VYork, haveinvented certain `new and* useful :TI-improvements in Automatic Telegrap-h-y, -ofwhichqthe following is a specification "lA-hisinevention relates to that class of telei graphs inwhichtheelectricfsignals orimpu-lses Whichrepresent the letters or `other charac-1 ters of communication are transmitted overl the mainline with great rapidity byineansof` dLetters Patent automatic mechanism.

`The jobject lof my invention is to provide a system ot'ielectric circuits and-apparatusat `the terminal station 4of such a line,so that any desired'nnmber of different operators may be `;`simultaneonsly engaged in preparing matterfor transmission, the copy being divided intoany required number of sections or takes each f ofwhich may `consist eitherof oneormore distinct messages or of -one or `more `parts of a single communication. "Iheinatteriwhich has `thnsbeen prepared` by the different operators.` is transmitted in proper order of succession an dfwith` great `rapidity over a sin gle condu ctor withoutentailing any material lossof time be- A tween the transmissionof `the different mesl sages-orportions of `messages thusprepared` The invention also `comprises means whereby? one `or more `receiving-instruinents `may beA placed` in connection Awith themain line, in lieu of oneof the `transmittingfinstruments.

The lresult obtained bythe use-of my inven- 1 tion isthe `more rapid and uninterrupted consecutiveltransmission of separately-prepared` messages or parts of messages over the single" linethan has heretofore been possible.

"The particular organization of the `invention hereinafter-setforth` has been `,developed with special reference tothe `use and adaptation in connection witha method or system `of `antomatictransmission "for `which United States o were issuedto XV. A.Iiegg,o,

March 15,1881.

Inpractically .operating an ,automatic sys-` tem ofithispartieular kind it has heretofore.`

been fusual,` for the different operators at the sending -istation to simultaneously ,prepare separate portions `ofthe matter `for Atransmis` sion-byinscribingthem in conventional sym-I y the station.

der. The Work 4ofpreparingfthe exhausted f cylinder with new matter may then be .com-

bols, composed of insulatingink, upon ine` `tallic cylinders, the line of characters passing helically around the cylinderiromV one of its ends `to the other. The cylinders whichliave thus been -charged with the prepared matter cally transmitted one after another `therethrough by causingthemto revolverbeneath 6 a .circuit-closer or stylus in a mannervfully set 4forth in the above-mentioned 1 Letters *Pa-tent of Leggo, to Which reference may-be had for a moreparticular description. iWhen the matter `contained upon the 'surface of any one cylinder has thus been transmitted, it has been necessary to replace that cylinder by ianother, and theautomatic transmission has nec -essarily been interrupted or superseded .d ur

ing the time required to substitute one AcylinderL for the other, and to effect theadjnstmentof parts requiredto Paccommodate the newucylinder. Thealoss of time thusentailed-seriously `diminishes the actual Working capacityofthe line. fInthe. 4organization hereinaftento Vabe de- `scribed thisloss of time in transmission isen tirelyavoided. Each cylinder `is placedin-an independentlocal circuit, together with the apparatns which `is necessary to `preparethemat- `ter'whichmaybe assignedto it. `I alsoprovide an independent branch of themainlinefor each tranSmitting-cylinder, which `is `so ,arranged ,as to be capable of beingvplaced in connection rwith :the lmain-line conductor itself at the proper moment` by the managing operatorof 8 -Vhen .anyV oneof i the branch conductors is thus connected, it forms-the ternn'nal portion -of the main conductor. *The instant that such `connection has been estab lished the operator in ycharge of the particular `cylinder'is notified -by an electric signaling apparatus to commence thetransniission ol" the .-matterwith.which'it.is charged`,and so soon as theymatter has been transmitted the .managing operator is notified of the ifact by an independent signaling apparatus, whereupon :he iinmediatelytransfiersthe connection of the `main line to another-branch-.thatistosay,

to the one in `Whichis `included them-cylinder `Whose 4matter is to'be transmitted next in or- Cn i 'roo r animar nienced at once. The interval between the completion of the transmission from one cylinder and the commencement of the transmission from' the next cylinder in order is thus performed almost instantaneously, as it involves nothing more than the mere changing of a switch from one contact-point to another, and at the same time sending a starting-signal to the operator in charge of the second dinary vibrating bell in each of the compart-v ments, and a corresponding key for closing the circuit of the same at the desk of the managing operator, whereby the latter is enabled to instantaneously notify the transmitting operator when the main line is connected-and in readiness for the transmission of the portion of the matter with which the cylinder is charged.

The method of preparing the separate messages for transmission requires a local circuit for each cylinder, and in each of these circuits is included, akey and a recording-pen adapted to be operated by an electro-magnet, and to register` upon the surface of the cylinder the operations of the key. This is preferably accomplished, as in the Leggo system, before alluded to, by means of spaces corresponding to dots and dashes,which arcleft between sections of some non-conducting material applied through the agency of the registering-pen. For the purpose of thus registering upon the cylinder the message which is to be transmitted, it is necessary only that a battery be so connected with the key that a circuit may be completed thereby through the coils of an electro-magnet employed for controlling the pen. As there are several of these instruments, however, I prefer to so organize them that they may be all operated by a single battery. The circuits are also rendered interchangeable by means of va switch-board, sothat any key may be en'iployed for preparing any of the cylinders. fThe switch-board is further so organized that' any of the registering-circuits may be connected with one of a series of linewires belonging to a minor systeinfsuch, for instance, as lines in city districtsfinstead of being connected directly with the return-conductor o f the battery. Ihis organiza-tion ren- I ders the system of service for transmitting directly upon `any of the shorter lines of the systen1,without the intervention of the automatic devices. A sounder or other receiving-instrument is therefore preferably included in each of the registering-circuits, for the purpose of 7o rendering each a complete circuit for manual transmission. Each office is further provided with one or more receiving-circuits,withwhich the main line maybe connected when messages are being transmitted thereto from adistant station. Each receiving-circuit is preferably provided with two or more independent automatic receiving-instruments, which may be substituted the one for the other in the event that any one becomes inoperative during the reception ofa dispatch.

In receiving messages I prefer to employ the system which is described and claimed in the application above referred to, and which consists, briefly, in placing an opposing battery in the receiving-circuit through which it is necessary for the transmitting-battery to work. This organization is einployedfor the purposeof overcoming the detrimental effects of static induction. The strength of this opposing battery is to be governed to accommodate the circumstances at any time existing,

and it is found necessary to modify it frequently. For this purpose Irdivide the opposing battery into sections so organized that one, two, or more sections may be connected with the main line, through the receiving-instrument in series, by a simple change in the position of a controlling-switch.

The invention will be more readily understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a diagram illustrating the organization o f circuits and apparatus as adapted to the Leggo system, and Fig. 2 shows certain details of construction. i

Referring to the iigures, the apparatus grouped at A represents that employed at the central desk in an office of an automatic-telegraph system, and at a a2 a is represented the apparatus at a series of sub-desks or transmitting desks. ters the office at the central desk A, where it is connected with a switch, B, adapted to continue the connections of the same with either of the various transmitting-instruments, or with a receiving-instrument, C, also located at the ofce.

Considering first the apparatus at thetransmitting-desks a, each of these desks is provided with a cylinder, D, of conducting materIhis markino- )en or st lus nor- IOO IIO

The main line L of the system en- I magnet, c?, when the latter' isvitalized. The coils of the electro-magnet c'Z are respectively included in branch-circuit-s of a battery, O,

'each circuit being also supplied with a key,

K, of any suitable form. By simply completing and interrupting the circuit of the battery O through the aid of anykey, K, the corresponding marking-pen will alternately be raised from and pressagainst the surface of the cylinder, thereby causing spaces to intervene between the successive sections of non-conducting material applied to the cylinder by the marking-pen. These spaces depend for their 'length upon the time that the key is keptdepressed, and correspond thus to the dots and dashes of thetelegraphic code. The marking-pen and'electro-magnet of each cylinderare supported upon a carriage (not shown) which is caused to move longitudinally with reference to the cylinder by-means of a threaded rod upon which nthe carriage is supported. Such a device istillustrated in the-Leggo patent referred to. `The marking-pen thus applies a spiral line of non-conducting material `uponthesurface of the cylinder as the latter is revolved,and the interruptions of this line, caused by the depressions of the keyK, constitute the dispatch to `be transmitted. The

l,method 4of transmit-ting consists in causing a contact-point, c, which is connected through a corresponding` conductor, Z, Z2, or l, with thc switch B, to traverse the surface of the cylin- 4 der along the same line traversed by the marking-pen.Tl1is contact-point constitutes one electrode of a circuit andfthe cylinder the other. The point c* is for this purpose supported upon the same` carriage with themarking-pen c', each being constructed so that it may be raised out of contact withthe cylinder while the other is being employed.

ln connection with the transmitting-desk ai* I have represented, in addition tothe key K,

a key-board transmitter, It, ot'well-known construction. It consists, merely, of a series of revolving circuit closing disks, k, connected with one pole of the battery O', and a series of contact springsor brushes, k2, connected with a conductor leading to the electro-mag- ;f net c?. Each disk represents a different char- 5o acter, and is constructedto complete the circuit `of the battery when the corresponding l contact or circuit closing spring is thrown into theV path of the projections k3, formed upon its i A... periphery, thereby transmitting impulses corresponding with the character which it is designed lto represent. A switch, c5, is inserted in thebranch conductor 3, leading to the key K at the desk a3. This switch isemployed i when it is desired to use the key-board transmitter'instead.oi the simple key.

As it frequently happens that it is desired totransmit from one of the desks c directly upon some subsidiary liner-such, for instance, as .a city line-I provide a switch-board, E. This board is provided with conducting-strips e', respectively forming the terminals of such city lines. The conductors 4, leading from the through the electro-magnets ci when this part of the system is being employed, a switch, c, is placed in each conductor 4 for short-circuiting the coils of the corresponding magnet. A relay or other receiving-instrument, c, is also inserted in each conductor 4,whereby the operator is enabled to receive communications directl y fromany line with which he may be placed in connection. The switch-board E is provided with a ground-plate, e, which is connected directly with the earth by a conductor, 5. The conductors 4 are normally connected by means of the switch-plugs m directl y with this ground-plate, and thus `through the earth with the negative pole of the` battery O', the positive pole being connected through zthe conductor l with the contact-points ofthe lseveral keys K.

It may sometimes be desired to connect two of thelocal circuits with each other for various reasons-as if, forA instance, it is desired,

to employ the key-board transmitter k for the purpose of preparing a dispatch upon another cylinder than that to which it is directly ap plied. To accomplish this end the switchboard E is provided with an additional conducting-stri p, c", in connection with which any one of the conductors 4 maybe placed through the agency of the corresponding contact-disk, et, and switch-plug fr. Two conductors 4 being thus placed in connection with the same strip, e, the two lines will be connected in series.

Referring now to the plan of transmitting upon the main line the matter which has been transcribed upon` the various cylinders, the method whereby the managing operator at the centra-l desk is notified when any cylinder is ready for transmission will iirst be considered.

One pele of a battery, 02, is connected through a conductor, G, with a series ot' branch conductors, 7, respectively traversing thetransmitting desks or compartments c, andleading, yto the central desk A, where they traverse the electro-magnets of an annunciator, M. These.

IOO

IIO

magnets are arranged to control the signal.

drops corresponding to the desks inamanner well understood.

At `each oi' the desks a is placed a 'pushbutton, j', by means of' which the circuit ofthe battery O2 may be completed through the, cor`- lresponding branch conductor, 7 when it is`de-y sired to indicate to the managing operator 4that any particular cylinder is prepared for transmission.

Another system of branch conductors,.8y

leading fromonc pole of the ,battery O2, is prosurface of the cylinder.

vided for enabling thc cent-ral operator to signal any one of thetransmitting operatorswhen the apparatus at the central desk is in readiness for the transmission ofthe messages upon his particular cylinder. For this purpose a push button, fl, is included in each of the branch conductors 8 at the central desk, and a .corresponding signal-bell, f, is placed at each of the respective transmitting desks. The push-buttons ft may be marked in any convenient wayto designate the desks to which their respective conductors lead.

The conductors l/ l2, Src., leading from the respective circuit-closing points c, are arranged to'be connected with the main line L through the agency of the switch B in the following manner: Each conductor Zleads to a corresponding insulated contact-pin, b, projecting from the base b of the switch B. The switch-armBZ is pivoted at the center of the base b, and the pinsb are arranged in a circular series, so that the arm, when revolved, may be placed in contact with any desired pin and allowed to rest upon the same, thereby completing the circuit from the battery O3 to the corresponding cylinder, and through the conductor Z and switch B to the main line L, whenever the contact-point e* rests upon the \Vhen the contents ofV any cylinder have been transmitted, the switch-arm B' is moved into contact with any other pin b, and the contents ofthe corresponding cylinder are in like manner automaticallyJ transmitted through the agency ofthe contactpoint resting thereon. The managing operator, it will be understood, is able to determine what cylinders are ready for transmission by simply looking at the annuneiator-board, for the drops which have been caused to fall when the several operators have signaled the completion of transcribing upon their respective cylinders the messages assigned to them are allowed to remain exposed until the transcribed matter has been transmitted.

As it is frequently necessary for the managing operator to communicate directly with the distant station, an independent battery, 0*, is provided, and one pole of this battery is connected with the earth, while the other pole is connected with a conductor, 9, including a key, F, and sounder or other receiving-instrument, H. `The conductor 9 leads to an annular shoulder,xb", on the switch B. This shoulder is of such height as to afford a rest for the switcharm B'l when the latter is placed between any two pins, but not to be in contact therewith when the arm rests upon any one of those pins. Thus by simply moving the arm B2 to a position between any two pins b and allowingit to restthere the instruments in the conductor 9 will be placed in readiness for use. Vhen, instead of transmitting, it is desired to receive dispatches a-t the office represented in the drawings, the switch-arm B`z is movedinto contact with a pin, b, which is similar to the pins b, but which is connected through a conductor, l0, with a chemical or other suitable receiving-instrument, G, of well-known construction. The conductor from this receivinginstrument preferably leads through a portion of a battery, O5, tothe earth at G', according to the arrangement of apparatus described in my application for patent before alluded to. This battery O5 isopposed to the batteryemployed at t-he transmitting-station, and to a greater or less extent neutralizes the currents therefrom. vThis is for the purpose of preventing tailing at the recording-point or stylus cs of the receiver by neutralizing the effects of the static charge and discharge of the line-wire. In practice it is frequently found necessary to change the amount of battery force employed for this purpose; and to more readily accomplish this end I divide the `battery O5 into sections, leading a conductor from each section to a" corresponding contact-point, p, of a switch, P. The conductor 10, leading from the receiving-instrument C, is connected with the switch-arm P of the switch I), and by moving this arm into contact with one or another of the points p the amount of battery force opposed to the transmitting-battery may be adjusted as required. the opposing battery O", I prefer to employ an artificial resistance-circuit, L, for giving to the battery O5 a complete circuit at all ,times and maintaining a Iiow of an opposing current through the instrument C. This resistancecircuit includes an adjustable artificial resistance,T.

For the purpose of avoiding any possibility of delay occurring bythe reason of the inoperativeness of the receivi11g-instrument C, another similar instrument, C", may be placed in a branch circuit, l1, and kept in readiness for use. By simply changing the position of a switch-arm, s, from its contact-point s to the point s`Z this receiving-instrument maybe substituted for the instrument C.

Although I have described my invention in connection with one particular system of automatic telegraphy, it is evident that itmay be applied with good results to various other systems, and I do not desire to confine myself to this particular system, nor to any of the spe-V cie forms of apparatus described.

Lmay enter the 'office at the central desk,

In conjunction with- It is evi-Vv dent, moreover, that more than one-main lineA ICO , and be substituted one for the other, as desired.

I claim as my invention l. The combination of `a telegraphic main line, two or more independent automatic transmitting devices, means for preparing said devices with matter for automatic transmission, and means,substantially such as described-for connecting each of said devices with said main line in its propersuccession.

2. The combination,with a telegraphic mainv line, of a terminal station provided with a central managing desk and two orrmore subsidiary desks, each being equipped with an automatic transmitting device, means` for preparing said devices with matter for automatictransmission, electric signaling apparatus for transmit;`

lines, and a switch by means of which any one of said branch conductors may be connected with any one of said subsidiary lines.

4. The combination of two or more automatic transmitting-cylinders, a transmitting-stylus applied to each of said cylinders, a main battery, a main line, means, substantially such as described, for charging each of said cylinders `with matter for automatic transmission, a

switch for placing anyone of said styluses in connection with said main line, an annunciator located near said switch, and means, substantial] y such as described, whereby the respective drops and said annunciator may be actuated from a point near said cylinders` In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed iny name this 14th day of September,

A. D. 1883. i

THEODORE F. TAYLOR.

'Vitnesses:

DANIEL W. EDGECOMB, CHARLns A. TERRY. 

